New Zealand-based digital agency NV Interactive has picked up double recognition in this year’s Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year Awards.

In standing out from the global crowd, the agency has been recognised as a finalist in two categories, for its work in developing a cloud-based platform for arts festivals, alongside a mobile emergency response system for the New Zealand Fire Service.

Specifically, the creative business was named a finalist in the Cloud for Global Good and Public Sector: Public Safety and National Security categories.

Competing against almost 3,000 entrants from across the globe - spanning 115 countries and 34 categories - NV is the only Kiwi partner to be recognised at a global level this year.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be globally recognised by Microsoft for our work, and proud to be representing New Zealand on the world stage,” NV managing director Matt Pickering told Reseller News.

“It’s a real validation of the perfect marriage of form and function delivered by our user-centric design approach.”

The double recognition means NV has now won three global partner awards and become a finalist in three, after taking home two worldwide honours in 2012, alongside regional and New Zealand awards.

As a long-standing Microsoft partner, NV specialises in digital branding, information architecture and user experience design as well as web and mobile development, app development and online marketing.

Its recognition in the Cloud for Global Good award was for “making millions happy” with its bespoke and customisable platform for arts festivals, used by the World Buskers Festival in Christchurch and the New Zealand Fringe Festival in Wellington, among others.

“The 2017 festival again broke all records for ticket sales,” World Buskers Festival Director Melissa Haberfield said. “A key reason for this was the engaging and intuitive website delivered by NV that made ticket sales seamless.”

In addition, NV collaborated with fellow Microsoft partner, Intergen, to develop a fully integrated mobile emergency response system for the New Zealand Fire Service, which was recognised in the Public Sector award.

The system - currently in pilot phase - includes a tablet application for first responder fire crews to receive live critical scene information, travel routes and data from other crew, wherever they are.

“The outstanding innovation and expertise the Microsoft partner community continues to provide is demonstrated by this year’s award winners,” Microsoft Corporate vice president Ron Huddleston added.

“We applaud NV Interactive on achieving double Finalist status in the 2017 Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year Awards.”

Drawing on a 15 year partnership with Microsoft in New Zealand, NV has worked with a host of iconic brands across the world, including BBC Worldwide, USA Today and ESPN, alongside local companies such as SKYCITY, New Zealand Cricket, Te Papa, Air New Zealand and Revera.

“We love to use technology to make people’s lives safer, more fun, and more connected,” NV technical director Gus Pickering added.

“These awards are all the more satisfying because they demonstrate our commitment to using technology for social good. One award was for helping make more people love the arts, and the other was for helping firefighters save more lives.”

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